Champion of the frozen fish toss, Pat Jayroe of White Lake poses with the coveted trophy. Photo by Chris Tredway

BELLAIRE - Crowds gathered for the 40th annual Slush Cup on March 1 at Schuss Village, a colorful exhibition of downhill skiing where cheers are mixed with laughter, and the Ski Patrol is close at hand.

Shanty Creek Resorts is credited with originating this curious competition where skiiers and snowboarders must clear a series of gates before hydroplaning across roughly 30 feet of water, and creative costumes are encouraged.

The stakes were raised this season to award the fastest time a season ski pass, although not all competitors made an honest attempt at victory.

Some avoided the gates, hoping only for a dry finish, while others made seemingly suicidal attempts by entering the knee-deep pool backwards.

Erupting from the icy water, arms raised to the sky, the soaked contenders sauntered towards the bank, some tripping on their snowboards and going down once again. Others glided across with ease. The crowd applauded both. Laughter came with the costumes, or in some cases the lack of clothing, which seemed a cheap alternative.

Forty years ago it was a different scene. The Slush Cup drew a modest crowd and the course was much smaller, Marketing Assistant Judy Stilwell said. It has been building well over the past seven years as other events have been added to make it an all-day experience. Extra emphasis has been placed on these events and a DJ now plays music during the race, Stilwell said.

Extending the schedule of events gave rise to an incredible display of power found in none other than the "Frozen Fish Toss," now one of the most popular happenings of the day. Strategies for this fifth annual tossing were perfected on a trial-and-error basis as the line of contestants grew shorter.

Concentrated looks were on the faces of those looking for the right grip. With a handful of hopefuls remaining, four-year veteran Pat Jayroe of White Lake, Michigan took a firm grip just above the tail, charged toward the line, and sent the fish spinning into the air. It landed with a thud and slid well into first place.

Trophy in hand, Jayroe reflected on the performance, "It was a big fish this year. A tight grip and momentum were definitely key."

Other events included a downhill race employing garbage bags, aptly named the "Seal Slide," a downhill shovel race, and the recently added "Fruity-Suity," which involves bathing suits, an outdoor swimming pool, and large amounts of fruit.

In this final event of the afternoon, contestants in teams of four are given one minute to fill their suits with as much fruit as possible, exit the pool, and unload for points. Options include watermelons, pineapples, oranges, and limes, explained Events Director Janet Jennings, who would not take credit for conceiving Fruity-Suity.

Although these other events have boosted attendance, the Slush Cup remains on top. Ferris State University student Craig Frasier said he heard about Slush Cup over the Internet. New to the concept of snowboarding on water, Frasier received advice at the top of the hill where veteran slushers told him to get speed and lean back.

"Most of the time they're telling you to take your shirt off," said Frasier, who finished the race high and dry. "I wanted to spray the crowd but they were too far away."

Chris Tredway can be reached at ctredway@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.